Article turnover



Sept. 9, 1958' E. E. HAGELINE ETAL 2,851,147

ARTICLE TURNOVE'R Filed Feb. 8, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 9, 1958 E. E. HAGELINE ET AL 2,851,147

I ARTICLE TURNOVER Filed Feb. a. 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

fi/wwu w If ATTOHNE Sept. 9, 1958 E.- E. HAGELINE ET AL 2,851,147

ARTICLE TURNOVER Filed Feb. 8, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNE ARTICLE TURNOVER Emil E. Hageline and Milton C. Klotz, Chicago, 111., as-

signors to The Lathrop-Paulson Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application February 8, 1956, Serial No. 564,159

13 Claims. (Cl. 19833) This invention relates to an article turnover, and is particularly useful in the upending and turning over of cases, and the like.

An object of the invention is to providesimple and effective mechanism, in combination with a conveyor, for turning over cases or similar articles as they are being advanced along a conveyor, whereby cases which are deposited upon a conveyor with the open side down, will be engaged by the mechanism as they proceed along an endless chain, or the like, and be turned into a position with the open side up. A further object is to provide simple mechanism in which rotating arms are empioyed for engaging the sides of cases and upending the same on the conveyor, while cushioning means is provided for receiving the case as it is turned over to lower it upon the conveyor so that it will proceed along the conveyor in the turned up position. A still further object is to provide in such a mechanism a radial armwhich is rotated to positions above and below the conveyor and equipped with fingers which in one position are turned inwardly for engaging the case, and in another position are turned laterally so as to be moved alongside the case or conveyor without striking the same. Yet another object is to provide cam-equipped and non-cam-equipped mechanism for discharging the functions above described while at the same time automatically moving the fingers into case-engaging and non-case-engaging positions. Still another object is to provide switch means and control mechanism for forwarding cases or other articles to the turnover device and for controlling the operation thereof. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in illustrative embodiments, by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a broken side view in elevation of a conveyor and mechanism employed therewith for turning over a case, or the like; Fig. 2, a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the case in partially turned-over position; Fig. 3, a broken top plan view; Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the case in turned-over position; Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the actuating arm in lowered position preparatory to engaging another case; Fig. 6, a perspective view of a modified form of structure in which the parts are greatly simplified; Fig. 7, a broken top plan View of the apparatus equipped with article control means and automatic switch mechanism for controlling the operation of the turnover; Fig; 8, a vertical sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 88 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a broken schematic view showing a cycle switch for bringing about a complete turnover operation with each actuation of the switch; and Fig. 10, a perspective viewof a switch rod and switch actuating mechanism which may be employed.

In the illustration given in Figs. 1-5, inclusive, 10

' designates a frame on which is mounted a chain-supporting table or guide 11, provided on each side thereof with side walls 12. The bed 11 and the side walls 12 are Patented Sept. 9, 1958 2 cut away, as indicated at 13 in Fig. 3, to provide spaces through which actuating fingers 14 may extend for engagement with a case 15 for upending or turning over the same. On the bed 11 is supported a continuous chain 16, or any other suitable type of conveyor. Since a case conveyor or continuous chain conveyor is of wellknown construction, a further detailed description herein is believed unnecessary. It will be understood that the chain is driven by any suitable means and is employed to convey cases 15, or the like, from a. reception point and to discharge them later at a delivery point.

The present invention contemplates the action of, upending fingers 14 for raising the rear portion of a case in the turning-over operation, while at the same time pro viding a cooperating member which engages the case. as it is being turned over and then lowers it-upon the conveyor chain so that it is carried away in turned-over position. the chain 16, we support anactuating shaft 17. The actuating shaft 17 may be connected directly to a motor at one end, or to a chain-driven sprocket, or to any other suitable source of power (not shown). Upon shaft 17 is fixedly mounted a cam member 18, which 'is designed to operate a pair of cushioning arms 19. The cushioning arms are preferably mounted upon sleeves 20 received upon the auxiliary shaft 21, and the sleeve 20 is rotated by a short arm 22 fixed thereto and equipped at its end with a roller 23 engageable with the exterior surface of the cam 18. The curvature of the cam is such as to cause the cushioning arms 19 to rise and meet the case so as to engage the same in the turning-over operation and lower the case to a position upon the chai'n,.the operations being shown in sequence in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

In the turning-over or raising of thecase 15, we employ the fingers 14, heretofore referred to, and support the same in such a manner that as the shaft 17 rotates, the fingers turn inwardly ,to engage thecase and lift it and then, after lifting the case, the fingers turn laterally so that they are in parallel position with the conveyor chain and may thus be moved in a circular path downand alongside the conveyor and then upwardlyto engagea second case, the fingers being turned inwardly as they approach the chain and pass through the lateral openings 13 in the chain support. Any suitable means for producing the above changes in the position of the operating fingers may be employed. In Figs. 1 to 5, we have shown one form of structure for accomplishing this purpose, and in Fig. 6, we have shown a different and much simplified form of structure for accomplishing these results.

In the structure shown in Figs. l-S, inclusive, the shaft 17 is provided on each side with a sleeve 24 fixed to the shaft, and the sleeve is provided preferably with an integral arm 25 extending radially outwardly. -Arm 25;,is provided with a stud 26 which extends through an arcuate slot 27 in the sleeve 25a. Sleeve 25a, is rotatably mounted upon the arm 25, but the rotation thereof is limited by the arcuate slot 27 and the pin 26 carried by within the sleeve 25a permitting rotation to this extent.

1 The sleeve 25a is provided on oneside with aneccentric weight 29, which tends to rotate each sleeve 25a to bring the finger 14 thereof into'a parallel position with the belt when the sleeve is in the raised position shown in Fig. 2, and to turn the sleeve 25a into a position bringing the finger 14 into a position transverse to the path of In a portion of the casing 10, preferably bel'ow 3. travel of the case when the sleeve is moved to -the lower position illustrated in Fig. 5.

In the structure shown in Figs. 1 5, we provide cam tracks; 31) and31, which engage the eccentric weight 2910 maintain the sleevef'25a in the positions described during the periods offcontact between the Weight and thetracks. It=-wil1 =be' noted thatthe' 'tracks '30and -31 are spaced apart attheir-upper ends; the space being designated by the'numeral 32, and -at-their lower ends there is asubstantial space 33'between the camtracks. In the space 32 theeccentric weight causes the sleeve 25a to rotate toka position in whichthe finger 14 is parallel with the path of travel of the caselS, and in the space 33; the weight 29 reverses the-position of the. sleeve 25a to bringathe finger 14 into.-aposition transverse to the path of "case travel. Inthcseturning operations, the cam tracks-30 and-31 mayassist-the turning of the sleeve 25a through: the contact of the inclined; weight 29 with the cam tracks-but ordinarilyit'is found that theecccntric weight-is in itself effective in producing the turning operation.

Operation.

In theoperationof the apparatus, a case 15 is advanced upon th'ebelt 16 and it is desired to turnthe case over as itjmovesj forwardly onthe conveyor. For example,

the"case 15 may have itsopenend downmost and it is desired to turn it so that the open end isuppermost, or vice versa; When the case 15 reaches the position illustrated inFig. 1, the rotating shatf 17 brings the arms supporting fingers 14 upwardly, so that with the fingers 14 turned inwardly in a position transverse to the path of travel of'the case 15,thus engaging the rear portion of the case 15, the fingers are held in this position by the sleeve 25a and the weight member 29 engaging the cam track 31; Continued rotation of the shaft 17 moves the case 15 to the position shown in Fig. 2. At the same time, the operation of the shaft and cam 18 has moved thecushioning arms 19 to the position shown in Fig. 2 so as to receive the case 15; and in the subsequent steps shown 'in Fig.- 4, the case is lowered upon the belt 16 and carried in turned-over position forwardly by the belt. As the finger-supporting arm (comprising the armmember 25 and the sleeve 25a) reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, thc-weight 29 is released from engagement with the cam 31 and the weight, being off center, swings to the position shown best-in Figs. 2 and 4, in which the finger 14 lies in a-plane'parallel with the path of travel'of case 15: By moving each finger 14 into this position, the fingeris kept out of engagement with the chainsupporting frame -or track, and the finger thus is free to pass the'chain track. When the compositearm formed of thetmembcrs- 25 and 25areaches the position shown in Fig. 5, the weight 29, being released from contact with the-cam track-30, swings. laterally to the position shown in Fig.- and into engagement with the cam track 31 and continues in thisposition; as illustrated-in Fig.- l, to'-repeatthe.firststep of the operations previously described: It will be understood that space is-provided belowthe central frame for the rotating movement of the composite arm'through the raised and loweredpositions'illustrated, so that the shaft 17 may be continuously revolved to move the actuating finger-carrying arm-to the various positions illustrated, while at the same time actuating-thej-cushioning arm to bring about its function of holding the case during the upending' opcration and the depositing of ;the case in turned-over position upon I the conveyor chain 16. t

The foregoing-operation is performed rapidly, with-the chain 16 drawing cases forwardly in spaced relation past the turnover mechanism and the several cases being turned as above described and carried forwardly in-turnedover position by the chain, and in each of these operations the slecvea rotating upon the other arm part 25 rotates-to-move the actuating finger14 to the case-engaging and-non-case-engagingpositions illustrated.

Inthe modification shown in Fig. 6, thesleeve 34 fixed by key to the drive shaft 17 (as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive) is provided with an integral arm 35 telescopically engaged by a sleeve 36. The sleeve 36 is provided with a slot having two angularly-related portions. As shown in Fig. 6, thereisan; upper inclined portion 37 and a lower vertical portion 38 and a headed stud 39 carried by the arm 35 extends through the slot. A contact lug 40 extends inwardly from the sleeve 36 and the sleeve 36 is provided at its top with an operating finger 41 similar to the fingers 14.as illustrated in Figs. l-S, inclusive. An inclined cam member 42 is carried by a bracket 43 adapted to be secured to the side frame 10 of the conveyor, arcuate slots 44. being provided through which screws or other means may be extended for securing the bracket 43 adjustably upon the side frame 10. It will be understood that the machine shaft 17 is fixed to two of the hubs. or sleeves 34, these being on opposite sides of. the conveyor, and thecontact lugs 40 thereof are engageable with the cam 42 of a bracket 43on each side of the frame 10.

Inthis structure, the cam tracks 30 and 31 are omitted and the turning of the sleeves, and consequently the actuating fingers 41,; is :accomplished by the action of the inclined slot 37 andvertical slot 38 during the rotation ofthecentral shaft 17 which carries the hub 34. As the shaft 17 rotates, the outer sleeve 36 shifts its position on arm 35 and turns .90 degrees thereon due to'the influence of the spiral path defined by inclined slot 37 and vertical slot 38 which receive pin 39 thus moving the finger 41 into a position transverse to the path of case travel. As the arm (members 35 and 36) moves upwardly into engagement with the case, the pressure of the case itself causes sufficient friction to hold the arm in the vertical slot until the contact lug 40 on the sleeve 36 strikesthe angle plate or cam 42 on the trip bracket 43, and this-forces the sleeve down, causing it to turn degrees into a position in which the finger 41 lies in a plane parallel with the path of travel of the case by virtue of the pin 39 entering the angled slot 37. Thus the action of the inclined slot 37 and the vertical slot 38, in combination with the pin 39, brings about a constant reversal of position of the actuating finger 41 fromaposition transverse to the case travel, to-a position parallel with the path of case travel.

In operation, as the hub 34 rotates upon the drive shaft 17 to bring the armparts 35 and 36 into-their lower positions, the sleeve falls down in a spiral path dictated by the cooperation of slot 37 and pin 39 so as to bring the vertical slot 38 about pin 39, thus positioning finger 41 transversely with respect to the belt and continued upward movement causes the fingers to pass through the side apertures 13 of the conveyor and to engage the case to lift it, the weight of the case causing sufficient friction to hold the pin 39in the vertical slot. When, however, the lug 40 engages the inclined trip member 42, a positive rotation of the sleeve 36 occurs, bringing the sleeve down and causing the angle slot 37 to be positioned about pin 39, and thus turning finger 41 90 degrees into the position where the'finger moves in a plane parallel with the path of case travel and to one side of the conveyor frame.

In Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10, we set out primarily switch mechanism for theautomatic operation of the-turnover device and the case for articleholding mechanism which is also automatically operated. Such control mechanism may be employed with the structure shown in Fig. 6 or in the modification illustrated-in Figs. l-S, inclusive. In the illustration given in Fig. 6, we show the control mechanism applied to substantially the same structure as shown in Fig. 3. The chain conveyor 16 carries forwardly cases 50, 51 and 52. A spring 53 normally presses the case which, in the illustration given, is indicated by the numeral 51, toward the holding. lever 54. The hold- 5. ing lever 54, as shown best in Figs. 7 and 8, is carried by a crank arm 55 pivotally mounted in bracket 56, and the crank of the arm 55 is pivotally connected to a rod 57 fixed to a sleeve 58 receiving an eccentric 59 mounted on the main shaft 1711. Thus, it will be noted that as the shaft 17a rotates, the eccentric 59 causes a reciprocation of rod 57 and the holding lever-'54 swings outwardly to release the case 51 so that it may advance into position for engagement with the turnover arms 25b.

, The end of the shaft 17a is also equipped with a cycle switch cam 60, as shown best in Figs. 7 and 9, and the cam, after the motor has been started, maintains the switch 61 closed and operative for continuing the operation of the motor until an entire rotation of the shaft has been completed and a recessed portion 62 of the cam is again in alignment with the plunger of switch 61, at which time the switch opens and the shaft motor (not shown) will cease to operate. Since such mechanism is well known, a detailed description herein is believed unnecessary.

Any suitable mechanism for starting the motor may be employed. In the illustration given, we provide a switch rod 63 mounted for sliding movement and equipped with two upwardly-extending fingers 64 and 65. When a case engages one of the fingers 64 or 65 and rocks the same, it causes a contact with the main switch 66, starting the motor which drives shaft 17a, and thereafter the cycle switch 60 requires a complete operation or rotation of the shaft before the motor continues its operation, and should another case be in contact with one of the elements 64 or 65, the motor will not discontinue operation but will continue because the switch will be held in closed position. The easer arms or cushioning arms 19a will operate in the same manner as has been described heretofore in connection with Figs. 1-5, inclusive.

In the operation of the structure shown in Figs. 7-10, inclusive, the case 50 or 51 travels on the chain conveyor 16 and trips the switch lever or finger 65 connected to switch 66, closing its contacts and starting the motor which operates the main shaft 17a. The shaft 17a rotates the cam or eccentric 59, and, through rod 57 and arms 55 and 54, releases the forward end of the holding arm 54 from engagement with the forward end of a case such as case 51, and the case then proceeds forwardly into the position of the case indicated as case 52, where the turnover arms 25b effect a turnover thereon upon the easer arms 19a, as heretofore described. The cycle switch 60 requires that the motor continue in operation for one complete cycle so that the turnover operation is completed even through a single case be fed to the machine. I'he switches are connected in parallel.

'In normal operation, when cases are coming close together, there is no stopping of the turnover arms and the case stop 54, working in unison with the turnover arms, stops each case just long enough to allow the preceding case to be free of any crowding contact. The actuating switch 66 is connected in parallel with the cycle switch 61, and when the case closes switch 66, the cam 60 on shaft 17a closes switch 61 and keeps it closed for the amount of time required to complete one'revolution. The motor starts and stopsonly when cases are separated. When no cases are being advanced on the conveyor chain, the turnover arms 25a stand still; however, when any case is in the proper position, the turnover arms 25a will work. In the operation of the case stop, the spring bar 53 is effective in holding the case against the holding arm 54.

While, in the foregoing specification, we have set forth specific structures in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

1. In combination with a frame and a conveyor thereon for conveying articles, a shaft mounted for rotation in said frame and equipped with a radial arm member movable to positionsabove and-below said conveyor, an inwardly-extending finger carried by said arm member and engageable with the rear side of said article to raise the same, a cushioning arm for receiving the raised case, means for raising and lowering said cushioning arm, and means for moving said finger into a position parallel with said conveyor and subsequently into a position transverse to said conveyor. 6 I

2. The structure of claim 1, in which said shaft is equipped on each side of the conveyor with a radial arm each equipped with a finger for engaging opposite sides of said article.

3. The structure of claim 1, in which said arms are rotatably mounted and equippedwith eccentric weights and in which said frame is provided with interrupted cam bands engageable with said weights to restrain rotation of said arms except at said interrupted points.

4. In combination with a conveyor adapted to carry articles thereon, article-raising mechanism comprising a rotating shaft having a radial arm, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon said shaft and equipped at its end with fingers, and weight means for rotating said sleeve into different positions as said shaft is rotated.

5. The structure of claim 4, in which said sleeve and arm are connected by pin-and-slot means for limiting the rotation of said sleeve.

6. The structure of claim 4, in which said sleeve and arm are connected by a pin and slot, the slot having an inclined portion communicating with a vertical portion.

7. The structure of claim 4, in which an interrupted cam track is provided for engaging the eccentric weight to maintainit in a plurality of positions.

8. In combination with an endless conveyor for cases, said conveyor having a frame with lateral openings therein, a shaft mounted for rotation below said conveyor and having a radial arm on each side of said conveyor, a sleeve mounted on each of said arms and equipped with fingers adapted to be swung inwardly to pass through said frame openings and into engagement with a case carried by the conveyor, an eccentric weight mounted upon said sleeve for rotating said sleeve when said sleeve is moved from an upper to a lower position, and vice versa, and a pin carried by said arm and engaging a slot within said sleeve for limiting the rotation of said sleeve.

9. The structure of claim 8, in which said slot has an inclined portion and a vertical portion, said inclined portion producing a partial rotation of said sleeve and said vertical portion serving to retain said sleeve in the same position during a substantial portion of the rotation of said shaft.

10. In combination with a frame and a conveyor thereon for conveying articles, a shaft mounted for rotation in said frame and equipped with a radial arm movable to positions above and below said conveyor, an inwardlyextending finger carried by said arm member and engageable with the rear side of said article to raise the same, an easer arm for receiving the raised case and lowering the same, means for raising and lowering said cushioning arm, means for moving said finger into a position parallel with said conveyor and subsequently into a position transverse to said conveyor, means for restraining an article on said conveyor in a position in advance of said finger, a switch controlling the motor for rotating said shaft, and contact means engageable by the article for starting said motor.

11. The structure of claim 10, in which said article'- holding means is rendered inoperative upon the actuation of said switch.

12 .Igegmhipatipp witha conveyor adaptedlc rriove cases 'f o17wa1 'd1y, rn eans "for turning over said cia'ses as they are adyageed, by said conveyor, said means cemprisifng a vertically-movable"member engageable with a forward end of the cas'eg'anid adapted to receivethe case as it is turnedfover, a liftingfm'emb'er engageable with the rear portion of the case to lift the rear endthereof in the turning of the case, andmeans, comprising a rotatable finger-equipped sleeve movable into positions transverse to the path of travel of the case and parallel with said 10 path of travel, for rotating said last mentioned means in a circular path along the side bf the conveyor.

8 13'. The'stni'e'mr'e Ofclaim' 1 2, inwhich'said rotatable sleeve ise'quipped with a'eoritact'lug andin' which cain means are carried by the conveyorfra'frieerigageable'with said lug to turn said'sleevee References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l,7l6;080 Padilla June 4, 1929 2,473,955 Kendall June 21, 1949 2.641371 Webster June 9, 1953 2,646,869 Kay July 28, 1953 

